Section 1210. Permit invalidation, suspension, revocation and enforcement

A. In addition to the sources subject to this article, the provisions of this section shall apply to sources specified below:

1. Any stationary source (or portion of it), the construction, modification, or relocation of which commenced on or after March 17, 1972.

2. Any stationary source (or portion of it), the reconstruction of which commenced on or after December 10, 1976.

B. A minor NSR permit shall become invalid if a program of continuous construction, reconstruction or modification is not commenced within 18 months from the date the minor NSR permit is granted.

C. A minor NSR permit shall become invalid if a program of construction, reconstruction or modification is discontinued for a period of 18 months or more, or if a program of construction, reconstruction or modification is not completed within a reasonable time. This provision does not apply to the period between construction of the approved phases of the phased construction of a new stationary source or project; each phase must commence construction within 18 months of the projected and approved commencement date.

D. The board may extend the periods prescribed in subsections B and C of this section upon a satisfactory demonstration that an extension is justified. Provided there is no substantive change to the application information, the review and analysis, and the decision of the board, such extensions may be granted using the procedures for minor amendments in 9VAC5-80-1280.

E. Any owner who constructs or operates a source subject to this section not in accordance with the terms and conditions of any permit to construct or operate, or any owner of a source subject to this section who commences construction or operation without receiving a permit hereunder, shall be subject to appropriate enforcement action including, but not limited to, any specified in this section.

F. Minor NSR permits shall be subject to such terms and conditions set forth in the permit as the board may deem necessary to ensure compliance with all applicable requirements of the regulations of the board.

G. The board may revoke any minor NSR permit if the permittee:

1. Knowingly makes material misstatements in the permit application or any amendments to it;

2. Fails to comply with the terms or conditions of the permit;

3. Fails to comply with any emission standards applicable to an emissions unit included in the permit;

4. Causes emissions from the stationary source which result in violations of, or interfere with the attainment and maintenance of, any ambient air quality standard; or fails to operate in conformance with any applicable control strategy, including any emission standards or emissions limitations, in the implementation plan in effect at the time that an application is submitted; or

5. Fails to comply with the applicable provisions of this article.

H. The board may suspend, under such conditions and for such period of time as the board may prescribe, any minor NSR permit for any of the grounds for revocation contained in subsection G of this section or for any other violations of the regulations of the board.

I. The permittee shall comply with all terms and conditions of the minor NSR permit. Any permit noncompliance constitutes a violation of the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law and is grounds for (i) enforcement action or (ii) suspension or revocation.

J. Violation of the regulations of the board shall be grounds for revocation of minor NSR permits and are subject to the civil charges, penalties and all other relief contained in Part V (9VAC5-170-120 et seq.) of 9VAC5-170 (Regulation for General Administration) and the Virginia Air Pollution Control Law.

K. The board shall notify the applicant in writing of its decision, with its reasons, to change, suspend or revoke a minor NSR permit, or to render a minor NSR permit invalid.

L. Nothing in the regulations of the board shall be construed to prevent the board and the owner from making a mutual determination that a minor NSR permit is invalid or revoked prior to any final decision rendered under subsection K of this section.

M. Nothing in the regulations of the board shall be construed to prevent the board and the owner from making a mutual determination that a minor NSR permit is rescinded because all of the statutory or regulatory requirements (i) upon which the permit is based or (ii) that necessitated issuance of the permit are no longer applicable.

N. Except with respect to minor NSR permits issued in accordance with Article 3 (9VAC5-60-120 et seq.) of Part II of 9VAC5-60 (Hazardous Air Pollutant Sources), the provisions of subsections B, C, and D shall not apply to sources subject to the federal hazardous air pollutant new source review program.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 18, Issue 20, eff. September 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 03, eff. November 7, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§ 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia; federal Clean Air Act (§§ 110, 112, 165, 173, 182, and Title V) 40 CFR Parts 51, 61, 63, 70, and 72.